Eight persons were killed and seven remained missing after heavy rains hit parts of western and central China, forcing evacuation of 54,000 people. Over 2,200 houses had collapsed and 12,000 damaged due to the heavy rain. Direct economic losses are estimated to be of 1.95 billion yuan (USD 293.2 million), the Ministry of Civil Affairs said.

Eight persons were killed and seven remained missing after heavy rain, forcing evacuation of 54,000 people in Chongqing Municipality and the provinces of Hubei, Sichuan and Shaanxi, the ministry said.